President Obama Hosts President Karzai

President Barack Obama and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan participate in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

By Matt Compton

President Obama (Jan. 11): "Starting this spring, our troops will have a different mission -- training, advising, assisting Afghan forces. It will be an historic moment and another step toward full Afghan sovereignty."

President Obama hosted Afghan President Hamid Karzai today at the White House for talks on the partnership between our two nations and the role of U.S. troops in that country.

And coming out of those talks, President Obama was able to discuss a milestone we'll reach this year when Afghan forces take full responsibility for their nation's security and the war draws to a close.

"This progress is only possible because of the incredible sacrifices of our troops and our diplomats, the forces of our many coalition partners, and the Afghan people who’ve endured extraordinary hardship," he said. "In this war, more than 2,000 of America’s sons and daughters have given their lives. These are patriots that we honor today, tomorrow, and forever."

In his statement, President Karzai echoed that message.

"During our conversations...I thanked the President for the help that the United States has given to the Afghan people," he said, "for all that we have gained in the past 10 years, and that those gains will be kept by any standard while we are working for peace and stability in Afghanistan, including the respect for Afghan constitution."

Resolving the Plight of Persecuted, Uprooted People Around the World

Afghan refugee children standing with their belongings on a truck as they depart for Afghanistan from a UNHCR repatriation terminal in Pakistan on November 17, 2012.

By Anne C. Richard serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration.

2012 was a challenging year for humanitarians trying to help displaced people around the world. The following summarizes some of the challenges addressed by the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) last year.

Inside Syria, 40,000 people have been killed and over two million are displaced. Over half a million people have fled to neighboring countries. The U.S. government (the State Department and USAID) is providing $210 million in humanitarian aid to the region, and this aid is reaching millions.

Last year, refugees fled violence and drought in Northern Mali and fighting in Sudan, and even more displacement in the conflict-ravaged eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Kenya, Somalis found shelter in overcrowded refugee camps. In response, PRM staff members directed funding to emergency response and routinely carried out monitoring and evaluation visits to ensure U.S.-funded aid is well spent and reaching the people who need it.

In Afghanistan, PRM helped repatriate and reintegrate over 83,000 Afghans who returned home this year. NGO-run health clinics were transferred to Afghanistan's Ministry of Health, as planned. The U.S. government also supports the UN Refugee Agency's Solution Strategy for Afghan Refugees, which works with Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to protect refugees until they can return home safely and voluntarily and to find permanent homes for them when they do return.

Afghanistan: Security Transition Ceremony at Camp Sayar

Afghanistan
Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah
Story by Lt.j.g. Matthew Stroup

Camp Sayar, FARAH, December 13, 2012 – A security transition ceremony took place at Camp Sayar in Farah province.  The ceremony represented another success in the security transition process as six districts in Farah were officially transitioned to Afghan led security from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) – Anar Darah, Bala Boluk, Farah, Lash-e Juwayn, Qal’ay-ye Kah and Shayb Koh.  Upon completion of the security transition in Tranche 3 areas, Afghanistan will be responsible for protecting over 75% of their country’s population.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Mohammad Akram Khpalwak, Provincial Governor of Farah, U.S. Consul-General Jillian Burns, the Afghan Minister of Higher Education and Deputy Minister of Public Health, Commander, Regional Command West, Italian Gen. Dario Ranieri and British Army Brigadier General Richard Cripwell in addition to dozens of other provincial and coalition leaders.

“Today is a good day,” said Khpalwak. “Our own Afghans, our own blood, are taking responsibility to provide security for the districts.  I am proud to see Afghans defend our territory, our country and our people.”